My life seems to be full of surprises. Just three years ago I was the mother of seven children. I gave birth to each of them, the first five in rapid succession, then one four years later, and our last little bonus four years later still. When my youngest was three, I found myself thinking that there was something more I could with my life, something I could give. I prayed about it, thought about it, and wondered what my future might hold.

Then on February 14th 2006, my dear friend Emily called to tell me that they were in the process of adopting two children from Ethiopia. Little did I know that this conversation was the beginning of the answer to my prayers. I could not get the conversation out of my mind. I began to read about Ethiopia and the incredible AIDS orphan crisis and my heart broke for the millions of orphaned children. My husband Russ went on a trip to Mexico and while flying home he read two articles I had tucked into his briefcase, What Will Become of Africa’s AIDS Orphans and Hope Lives Here, both by Melissa Fay Greene.

We read more, did some research, talked with friends, and prayed — a lot. While wrestling with the issues, we decided to sponsor an HIV+ orphan at AHOPE in Ethiopia. I contacted AHOPE, set up sponsorship, and soon we received a photo of a thin little girl, her hair shaved close to her head. Dressed in a frilly white dress, she stood smiling with two dimples readily apparent, and what appeared to be a tear on her cheek. The picture went on our refrigerator and we began to pray for this faraway child.

Within a month we decided to adopt two little boys, which seemed just right for our family. We jumped into the adoption process and began to work through piles of paperwork. Our homestudy was moving along, our dossier coming together, and then something happened to change the course of our adoption story and ultimately the story of our lives.

Our friends went to Ethiopia to get their two little boys and while there, they visited the child we sponsored at AHOPE. At that time we were allowed to send gifts, so they took a little doll along with some gifts for the other children. Emily wrote,

… it was hard to stay composed while giving her this doll. She looked like I had just handed her a check for a million dollars. I am not exaggerating. That was what giving this girl a doll was like.

Later she told me, “Lisa, when you go to Ethiopia, you shouldn’t go to AHOPE…you will never be able to leave that little girl.”

She hesitated and then told me that the AHOPE nurse had said that she hoped we would adopt our sponsored child. Emily gently explained that we were already adopting two little boys and we weren’t planning to adopt “Dimples”. I wondered if it was even possible to adopt a child with HIV? Even if it was, what would the future hold? Was it safe for my other children, would she live very long, could I even remember to give medication on a regular schedule for the rest of a child’s life, or at least until she was grown? Could we possibly afford her medical care?

Three years ago I did not know the answers to these questions. As I searched for information and assurances, one thing began to become clear to me. The answer to the question I had been pondering about the “something more” I felt I should give, seemed to have something to do with Dimples.

More to come.

Lisa also writes about her life as the mother of eleven children at A Bushel and a Peck.